The nuclear matrix is the nonchromatin scaffolding of the cell nucleus that
confers nuclear shape, organizes the nuclear chromatin, and regulates many
important intranuclear biochemical events. Although our understanding of t
he nuclear matrix and its proteins is still evolving, it is clear that nucl
ear matrix proteins (NMPs) hold considerable promise as diagnostic tools fo
r pathologists. Early evidence suggests that NMPs may be useful biomarkers
of neoplastic disease in serum, body fluids, and tissues. NMPs are also pot
ential candidates for use as turner prognostic factors and targets of antic
ancer drugs. Moreover NMPs may hold the keg, to understanding important cel
lular events, such as neoplastic transformation, steroid hormone binding, a
nd apoptosis. Despite impressive gains made by cellular biologists and bioc
hemists toward understanding the structure and function of the nuclear matr
ix, many of the potential applications of NMPs to diagnostic pathology are
largely unexplored Thus, NMPs should prove an exciting and fruitful area of
investigation for experimental and clinical pathologists who are intereste
d in developing diagnostic tests for detecting quantitating, and characteri
zing these proteins in human tissues and body fluids and translating these
applications into the clinical pathology laboratory.